Aerosol safety device



June 28, 1966 A. L. LITMAN 3,258,172

AEROSOL SAFETY DEVICE Filed July 9, 1964 M M 7 25 /5 b 5 rid/ 2 INVENTOR ALAN L. L/TMAN BY 87%, 777%Zlam ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,258,172 AEROSOL SAFETY DEVICE Alan L. Litman, 114 Hartwood Drive, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed July 9, 1964, Ser. No. 381,460 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-153) This invention relates to an improved aerosol bomb adapted particularly for 'use as a weapon. More specifically, this invention relates to an aerosol container and the actuator therefor for dispersing a safe irritant such as that described in copending applications Serial Nos. 335,675, filed January 3, 1964, now .abandoned, and 375,- 375, filed June 15, 1964, each entitled Assailant Incapacitator.

In the prior applications chemical irritant compositions for dispersal from an aerosol can were described for personal protection against assailants such as muggers and wild animals. It was pointed out that prior attempts at pocket-sized personal protection devices fell short of the truly safe handling characteristics that permit devices to be used by the general public. Existing tear gas pens fire an explosive blank cartridge that disperses a cloud of active tear gas. Virtually all existing tear gas pens have some form of safety device-to prevent accidental firing; however, all such safety devices are inadequate in one or more respects. The safety may be such as to require two hands for operation defeating the protective purpose of the weapon, or it may be ineffective as a safety against a sudden jolt such as caused by dropping.

Aerosol containers for general usage are ordinarily provided with a safety of sorts which usually consists of an overcap that must be removed before the valve can be operated. The safety may be as simple as locating the valve actuator in a depression to protect against inadvertent bumping and operation thereof. Most aerosol devices contain harmless material such as soaps, deodorants, etc., with which the safety feature is not particularly important. Where an aerosol device is to contain a noxious substance such as insecticide or tear gas, an effective and easy to operate safety is a must.

I have deter-mined that overcaps and other conventional aerosol safety devices are cumbersome and inconvenient for use on a defensive weapon such as aerosol tear gas.

It has thus been an object of my invention to investigate the problems of providing an aerosol safety device that is fully effective, easy to operate and readily adaptable to small pocket size aerosol containers;

Another object of my invention has been to devise a safety device for aerosol containers that can be manipulated with one hand in the dark, if necessary;

Another important object of my invention has been to devise an aerosol safety device that will positively retain the aerosol valve actuator in place under rough handling as encountered in emergency situations.

These and other objects of my invention will appear to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding "ice FIGURE 3 is a top or plan view of the assembled structure of FIGURE 2.

Turning now more specifically to the drawings, there is shown a pocket size aerosol device, vial or bottle A of known basic construction comprising an elongated, handsize, pressure-tight container 10 having an axis. A valve actuator 11 is mounted axially and rotatably-movably on one end of the container 10. The container which is partially filled with a substance including a safe irritant,

such as Z-chloroacetophenone, bromacetophenone, iodoacetophenone, chlorobromacetophenone, bromobenzylcyanide, chloroacetone, bromoacetone, diphenylaminechloroarsine, and diphenylchloroarsine and a propellant which may be of either the condensible or non-condensible type.

The value actuator includes a sleeve-or cylinder-like portion 12 having a pair of diametrically opposed wings, actuating tabs, or finger-gripping parts 13 extending outwardly from a bottom portion thereof, and an upwardly convergent end portion 14 that terminates at its upper end in a. discharge orifice or nozzle 14a.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the discharge orifice 14a is in fluid communication with a transition tube 15 that engages an axially displaceable valve 16 mounted in the container 10 by a crimped container closure 17. The transition tube 15 has a slot 18 which provides communication between the interior of the container and interior of the transition tube. The valve 16 is a conventional perforated disk shown in its normally closed position wherein it is resiliently held against a downwardly extending valve seat 19 formed on the container closure 17. Downward axial movement of the actuator 11 moves the valve 16 away from the valve seat 19, permitting the flow of fluid from the container 10 into the transition tube 15. The transition tube 15 and valve seat 19 form a bearing-like supporting connection for the actuator 11 whereby the actuator 11 can rotate about the container axis without disturbing its operative connection with the valve 16.

the following description of the inventive concepts upon which my invention is based and a specific illustrative embodiment thereof.

One phase or cencept of my invention relates to the use of a fixed shoulder mounted on the areosol container and normally engaging the aerosol actuator to prevent its operation. The aerosol actuator is rotatable about the axis of the container and includes a slotted portion that cooperates with the shoulder when aligned therewith to permit operation of the valve actuator. Secondary abutments are provided on the container andQvalve actuator to automatically align'the slot in the actuator with the shoulder when the actuator is rotated to avoid necessity of visual alignment.

Another phase of my invention relates to the provision of an actuator retainer finger that resiliently loosely grips Returning to FIGURE 1, there is shown a safety constructed in accordance with my invention including an axially extending slot portion or relief area 20 formed in the valve actuator 11. The slot portion 20 has a lateral, axially extending side edge 21 that is immediately adjacent one of the wings 13. An axially facing shoulder or stop member 22 is connected securely to the container 10 adjacent the lower edge of the valve actuator sleeve 12. Conveniently the shoulder can be provided by a sheet metal clip member 23 that is fastened by spring tension or a suitable adhesive to the container 10. Preferably, the clip member 23 also includes an axially extending retaining finger portion 24 having a bent-in holding part 25 for engaging the convergent end portion 14 and retaining the actuator 11 on the container 10 and the sleeve 12 in frictional contact with the shoulder 22. The clip member 23 also provides a circumferentially facing ledge 26 on the shoulder 22 that cooperates with a circumferentially facing stop portion or abutment 27 on the wing 13 adjacent the slot 20 in the sleeve 12. The ledge 26 and stop portion 27 cooperates to automatically align the shoulder 22 with the slot 20 upon rotation of the valve actuator 11 about the axis of the container 10. It will thus be appreciated that the safety provided by my construction can be operated with one finger without visual assistance.

To facilitate operation of the safety device an axially upwardly offset camming surface, tapered lead portion or lateral axially and radially extending side edge 28 is provided in slot portion 20. The camming surface 28 guides and lifts the lower edge of the actuator sleeve 12 onto the shoulder 22 as the actuator 11 is rotated out of the fire position.

Operation of the device thus described is as follows: The device is normally carried with the actuator 11 posi tioned such that the shoulder 22 engages the lower edge of the actuator sleeve 12 which prevents the actuator from moving downwardly to displace the valve 16. When so positioned the device can be carried in ones pocket, purse, glove box or hand without fear of accidentally discharging the contents. When a situation arises requiring use of the device for the defense of ones person, the safety is readily released by a flip of the thumb against one of the wings 13, bringing the stop portion 27 thereof into engagement with the ledge 26 of the clip member 23 and thus automatically aligning the shoulder 22 with the slot portion 20. The device can then be fired by pulling the wings 13 rearwardly along the axis of the container and displacing the valve 16 inwardly to permit discharge of the irritating contents. After the device has been used a second flip of the thumb against the wings 13 will return the actuator sleeve 12 to its position of engagement With the safety shoulder 22.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that I have devised and developed a novel and particularly useful aerosol device that is especially adaptable for employment as a safe but effectively easy to use defensive weapon. Although a specific embodiment has been shown herein for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and intended scope of my invention as particularly set forth and defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved aerosol device comprising: a container having an axis, an axially displaceable valve mounted at one end of said container for selectively permitting or preventing fluid flow from said container, a valve actuator rotatably mounted on said one end of said container adjacent said valve for cooperative engagement therewith, said valve actuator having a sleeve including an axially extending slot portion, an axially facing shoulder securely connected to said container adjacent said sleeve for selectively cooperatively fitting within said slot for abutting said sleeve, and retaining finger means operatively engaging said valve actuator for retaining said valve actuator on said container.

2. An improved aerosol device comprising: a container having an axis, an axially displaceable valve mounted at one end of said container for selectively permitting or preventing fluid flow from said container, a valve actuator rotatably mounted on said one end of said container adjacent said valve for cooperative engagement therewith, said valve actuator having a sleeve including an axially extending slot portion therein and a circumferentially facing abutment immediately adjacent one lateral edge of said slot portion, an axially facing shoulder securely connected to said container adjacent said sleeve for selectively-cooperatively fitting within said slot portion for abutting said sleeve, said shoulder having a circumferentially facing ledge for cooperatively engaging said circumferentially facing abutment of said sleeve portion to axially align said slot portion with said shoulder and, retaining finger means operatively engagingsaid valve actuator for retaining said actuator on said container.

3. An assailant incapacitator comprising: a hand-size pressure tight container having an axis and an axially displaceable valve mounted at one end thereof for selectively permitting or preventing fluid flow from said container, a charge within said container comprising a propellant and an effective amount of an irritant, a valve actuator rotatably mounted on said one end of said container adjacent said valve for cooperative engagement therewith, said valve actuator having a sleeve including an axially extending slot portion therein and a circumferentially facing abutment immediately adjacent one lateral edge of said slot portion, an axially facing shoulder securely connected to said container adjacent said sleeve portion for selectively-cooperatively fitting within said slot portion for abutting said sleeve, said shoulder having a circumferentially facing ledge for cooperatively engaging said circumferentially facing abutment of said sleeve portion to axially align said slot portion with said shoulder, and retaining finger means engaging said valve actuator for retaining said actuator on said container.

4. An assailant incapacitator comprising: a hand-size pressure tight container having an axis and an axially displaceable .valve mounted at one end thereof for selectively permitting or preventing fluid flow from said container, a charge within said con-tainer comprising a propellant and an effective amount of an irritant, a valve actuator rotatably mounted on said one end of said container adjacent said valve for cooperative engagement therewith, a sleeve that has a pair of diametrically opposed, outwardly extending finger gripping parts and including an axially extending slot portion having first and second axial extending side edges, said first side edge being immediately adjacent one of said finger gripping portions, .a clip member securely connected to said container adjacent said sleeve portion of said valve actuator, said clip member having an axially extending finger portion that includes a thin shoulder which is held close-. ly adjacent to the lower edge of said sleeve portion to selectively-cooperate with said lower edge or said slot to selectively prevent or permit axial valve operating movement of said valve actuator, said finger portion further having an inward offset retaining part for engaging said valve actuator for retaining said valve actuator on said container.

5. An improved aerosol device as defined in claim 1 whereby said retaining finger means is resilient and operatively engages said valve actuator to resiliently maintain said sleeve in frictional holding contact with said shoulder Whenever said sleeve is in the shoulder abutting position.

6. An improved aerosol device as defined in claim 2 whereby said retaining finger means is resilient and operatively engages said valve actuator to resiliently maintain said sleeve in frictional holding contact with said shoulder whenever said sleeve is in the shoulder abutting position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,308 5/ 1952 Samuels et al 222394 X 3,006,340 10/ 1961 Meshberg 222394 X 3,035,605 5/1962 Ninnelt 222153 X References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,577,245 12/ 1951 Tuttle et al. 2,757,826 8/ 1956 Thomas. 2,811,289 10/1957 Davis et al.

3,075,708 1/ 1963 Cooprider.

' 3,083,872 4/ 1963 Meshberg.

3,104,034 9/1963 Sagarin et al. 3,107,033 10/ 1963 Sanborn.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED AEROSOL DEVICE COMPRISING: A CONTAINER HAVING AN AXIS, AN AXIALLY DISPLACEABLE VALVE MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER FOR SELECTIVELY PERMITTING OR PREVENTING FLUID FLOW FROM SAID CONTAINER, A VALVE ACTUATOR ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER ADJACENT SAID VALVE FOR COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, SAID VALVE ACTUATOR HAVING A SLEEVE INCLUDING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING SLOT PORTION, AN AXIALLY FACING SHOULDER SECURELY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTAINER ADJACENT SAID SLEEVE FOR SELECTIVELY COOPERATIVELY FITTING WITHIN SAID SLOT FOR ABUTTING SAID SLEEVE, AND RETAINING FINGER MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID VALVE ACTUATOR FOR RETAINING SAID VALVE ACTUATOR ON SAID CONTAINER. 